Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 3413
Liaodong.

Under the heavy snow all over the sky, hundreds of thousands of Tang troops scattered and scrambled to retreat in the direction of Yalushui in the north like a tide in the vast ice and snow.

The soldiers didn't know what happened, but when they almost entered Pingrang City at the last moment, and the moment the order to retreat was issued, everyone knew that the battle had failed.

The morale could not be discouraged. When hundreds of thousands of Tang tigers stepped into the border of Koguryo, fought bloody battles all the way from north to south and rushed straight to the city of Pyongyang, but withdrew at the last moment, and the morale of the army collapsed instantly.At this moment, the Tang army no longer had the arrogance and arrogance that swept Liaodong before, and there was only one thought in mind, and that was to withdraw, retreat, and quickly withdraw to the territory of Tang Dynasty, so as not to bury Liaodong...

The army was defeated like a mountain.

Yuan Gai Suwen is indeed worthy of the title of a generation of famous generals. He saw the retreat of the Tang army, although he did not know what was going on, but since he withdrew the army just before breaking the city, something great must have happened. is inevitable.

Therefore, he made a decisive decision and ordered the defenders in the city to abandon the city and attack, and chase after them. If they don't seek to kill the enemy, it is useless. They just want to delay the Tang army in this icy and snowy land in Liaodong for a few more days.

It's not to fulfill the agreement with Changsun Wuji, but the more chaos the Tang army has, the greater the casualties, and the more benefits to Goguryeo.

As long as this battle hurts the Tang army, at least in the next 30 to [-] years, it will be difficult for the Tang army to launch such a large-scale Eastern Expedition, and Goguryeo will be able to get a respite, take the opportunity to recuperate, and accumulate strength.

Yuan Gai Suwen, who had just slaughtered the Gao family and ascended the throne of Goguryeo himself, was ambitious. He hoped that one day he might be the one to lead the army himself, and maybe invade China.

The Tang army retreated like a tide in the front, and the Goguryeo army pursued from behind. On the vast Liaodong snowfield, the offensive and defensive momentum was reversed in an instant.

……

After running wildly for a day, the Tang army camped more than a hundred miles north of Pingrang City, and sent two armies, Xue Wanche and Ashina Simo, to stop the pursuing enemy army and buy a bowl of rest time for the army.

In the camp, led by Li Ji, Cheng Yaojin, Yu Chigong, Cheng Mingzhen, Zhang Jian, Zhang Liang, Qiu Xiaozhong and other generals were all present.A charcoal basin inside the tent was burning vigorously, but sparks were blown by the cold wind exposed from the gaps in the self-operated tent, and no one felt the slightest warmth.

Everyone sat silently, and the atmosphere was sad and depressing.

After a long time, Cheng Yaojin stared at Li Ji, and asked in a hoarse voice: "Your Majesty was wounded, and he was recuperating in the big tent, but the British Duke and Zhao Guogong did not allow us to visit. What are you going to do now that such a cataclysm happened? Give us an explanation?"

When he learned that His Majesty had passed away, he felt as if he had been hit on the head by a galloping buffalo, and the sky was spinning like gold stars. He couldn't believe it anyway.

But when he stepped forward to check that His Majesty was really out of breath, he accepted the bad news.

It's just that in order to organize the retreat of the army at that time, so as not to be distracted by the enemy's counterattack, this is the way to suppress the sadness and anger in my heart.

At this moment, here and now, he couldn't hold back anymore.

Zhang Liang, the Duke of Yun, also had red eyes, stared at Li Ji, pointed his halberd and said angrily: "Your Majesty is in the prime of his life, and the spirit of dragons and tigers is fierce. Even if you accidentally fall off a horse and get injured, you will recover after a few days of care. How could he die because of his injuries? I wouldn’t believe such nonsense even if I was killed! Can the Duke of England tell the truth, what is the reason for His Majesty’s death?”

Compared with Cheng Yaojin, Yu Chigong and others, Zhang Liang's grief may not be sincere, but he is the one who can't accept the fact that His Majesty died.Gein's others are all based on meritorious service, but he has not shown his military achievements and lacks ability. The reason why he has held a high position these years is because of His Majesty's favor.

Now that His Majesty has passed away, and the biggest backer has fallen, how can he not be angry?
Li Ji's face was gloomy, showing no signs of happiness or anger. Even though Zhang Liang pointed at his nose, he remained calm. He said slowly, "I don't know the truth about this matter. Perhaps only Zhao Guogong knows a thing or two."

His Majesty passed away inexplicably, and Changsun Wuji disappeared without a trace. There must be something involved in it. As for the inside story, only Changsun Wuji knows.

Qiu Xiaozhong interjected: "Duke Zhao disappeared without a trace. The truth is unknown, but according to the imperial physician, His Majesty finally took a bowl of decoction under the service of Zhu Suiliang. Of course, it may not be because of that bowl of decoction, but Zhu Suiliang must be arrested and interrogated severely, right?"

Everyone joined in.

Since Zhu Suiliang was the last person His Majesty came into contact with before his death, and His Majesty happened to take a bowl of decoction under his service, the suspicion is naturally the greatest.

Li Ji was still calm, and said slowly: "Your Majesty's death is a matter of heaven and earth. As ministers, we should be sad in our hearts, and it is only natural to track down the real culprit. But I want to remind everyone that the current situation Once the news of His Majesty's death spreads, not only will the morale of the hundreds of thousands of troops collapse in an instant, but Chang'an, which is thousands of miles away, will also be turned upside down!"

He stared at the people in the tent with bloodshot eyes, and said word by word: "Everyone, Your Majesty's death is irretrievable. Compared with tracking down the real culprit, it is more important to bring these hundreds of thousands of people to death. Take the army back and stabilize the situation in Chang'an! Otherwise, if the army's morale is scattered and hundreds of thousands of troops are buried in Liaodong, and even the situation in Chang'an collapses and the country collapses, what face do we have to set foot on the land of the Tang Dynasty? Goodbye to the elders of the Tang Dynasty? At this critical moment of life and death, please keep your senses and restrain the soldiers under your command. If anyone has irreparable consequences due to a moment of righteous anger, when the knife and ax are on the neck, don't blame me for not thinking about the love of robes! "

Everyone was speechless and kept silent.

It is not because everyone is disloyal to His Majesty Li Er, as Li Ji said, it is more important to bring these hundreds of thousands of troops back to Datang, and return to Chang'an to stabilize the situation. The country is in ruins, what face do they have to see His Majesty after they die?

All doubts and anger can only be put aside for the time being.

It is inevitable to be loyal to His Majesty Li Er and vow to find out the real culprit of His Majesty Li Er's death. All the generals in the tent have fought side by side with His Majesty Li Er for many years. His Majesty Li Er passed away but remained indifferent?
But more importantly, everyone inevitably has plans in their hearts, how to find out the real culprit, how to remove themselves from suspicion, how to maintain the power and wealth of the past in the future court, and even how to go further...

Its advantages and disadvantages are human nature.

*****
When the sailors, who were drifting on the sea and suffering from the cold wind and cold waves, heard the news that hundreds of thousands of troops had abandoned the city and fled wildly, all the generals and soldiers were stunned.

On the flagship, Su Dingfang stared at the captain who reported the news with wide eyes: "How is it possible?"

Hundreds of thousands of troops besieged Pingrang City, although there were heavy casualties, but the Goguryeo army was obviously weak. As long as they continued to attack, they would break through the city in a few days and fall to Goguryeo.

How can we retreat at this time?
If we retreat now, wouldn't the previous six months of conquest be in vain? Wouldn't the tens of thousands of Tang tigers buried in the bones of Liaodong be in vain?
How could His Majesty issue such an order?
The captain said: "The fact is that the army retreated for more than a hundred miles in a day, and the general came to order the navy to withdraw to Huating Town immediately to avoid the enemy's surprise attack."

Even so, Su Dingfang still didn't believe it: "Impossible! Could it be that they were unable to attack for a long time? What kind of strategy did the army use to lure the Goguryeo army out of the city to pursue and then wait for an opportunity to fight back?"

The lieutenant shook his head and said, "Withdrawal is certain. As for the reason, we don't know. But..."

Seeing him hesitate, Su Dingfang scolded angrily: "You are still hesitating at this time, do you think this commander won't kill people?"

The captain was so frightened that he knelt down on one knee, and said: "It's just because there is a rumor circulating inside and outside Rang City. It may have something to do with the retreat of the army, but it's actually unreasonable. I don't know whether to say it or not."

Su Dingfang said: "Say!"

"Here!"

The captain said: "Recently, there are rumors inside and outside Rang City that the Goguryeo 'Wang Zhuanjun' was lurking in the deep valley behind the Anhe Palace a few days ago. , and was shot in the eye by Yuan Nanjian..."

Su Dingfang was startled.

The navy stationed at sea was only responsible for transporting food, fodder, armaments and supplies to the army, and could not contact outsiders back and forth, so this was the first time he had heard such rumors.

It's unbelievable, but right now hundreds of thousands of troops suddenly withdraw without warning, even giving up the easy-to-get victory. Combining the two, Su Dingfang has a horrifying thought in his heart... No way?

But if something really happened to His Majesty, what should the navy do?

Really obey the British Duke's order, return to Huating Town from the sea, and completely give up this easy victory?If we give up this great situation today, and want to destroy Goguryeo in the future, how much food and fodder will we have to collect and how many soldiers will we lose?
Su Dingfang weighed left and right, pondering without saying a word.

(End of this chapter)